Sikhism
Metaphysics:
Dualism: there is a distinction between God and the world. But this distinction breaks down in the end to monism. The world, specifically humans, were created from God's nature. Therefore, the Sikh's ultimate goal in life is to be reunited with Sat Nam through reincarnation.
Epistemology:
Prophet/Gurus – Nanak, like Muhammad and Joseph Smith, claimed to receive revelation from God that all religions are false except the religion he should establish. If this was not the case, then Sikhism lead by Nanak would not have opposed Hinduism and Islam so forcefully. This implies religious pluralism was not and cannot be thought of as a tenant of Sikhism.
Revelation - The 10th Guru compiled the teachings of the Sikh Gurus’ into a book. This book is now honored as the last Guru.
Values
Sikhs are to abstain from the Five Evils: lust, attachment, pride, anger, and greed. By abstaining from these evils one may eliminate his/her ego countering the cycle of reincarnation bringing one in union with Sat Nam.
Internal Critique
Metaphysics
Where do the distinctions between Sat Nam and creation come from? Is all things derivative from Sat Nam? Or did Sat Nam create ex nihilo? If humans after reincarnation unite with Sat Nam does that mean we are part of Sat Nam? If so, and time is an illusion, how can I know I am not in union with Sat Nam already? For all I know, reincarnation has ceased for me and I am now one with Sat Nam.
If Sat Nam is timeless, is creation timeless as well? If not, did Sat Nam externally change while creating?
Nanak claimed to be a Guru of Sat Nam. But his claim was utterly arbitrary. Nanak did not justify his claim to being a Guru of God.
If we are all part of Sat Nam, and time is an illusion, how can one know he/she is not in union with Sat Nam already? For all one can know, reincarnation has ceased for him/her and is now one with Sat Nam.
Value
Where did the Five Evils come from? Man? Did Sat Nam command man to abstain from these evils? Why? Given Sikhism, why did Sat Nam allow parts of Sat Nam, man, to commit such evils? Does this mean the five evils is part of Sat Nam? Or part of Sat Nam through man commits the five evils? Or is the five evils merely “maya,” an illusion?
From the Christian standpoint, there is a distinction between the Creator and His creation. God is infinite and we are finite. He is absolute personality the one in the many, Tri-personal: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He is absolute in lordship, authority, presence, knowledge, power and goodness. Thus God is perfect and lacks nothing. Mankind was created in His image to reflect His character and nature. This was to be done in obedience to His revelation. His revelation was to be our standard for thought, and deed. Man rebelled against God and exchanged and repressed the truth of God for a lie; man willfully replaced God with creation. He served and worshiped the creation rather than the Creator. Man is the origin of fallenness and evil we see in the world. This can only be overcome by God's grace in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Man does not need to be ontologically united with God (such an idea is contrary to God's self-sufficiency), he needs to be reconciled with God. He needs to be at peace with God who presently in his sin is an enemy of God. God's wrath is targeted at all sinful men and will be poured out on the day of judgement. But God offers all mankind salvation in Jesus Christ. We deserve God's wrath but Christ absorbed it for all those that will repent and trust in His death on their behalf.
Critique of Reincarnation HERE
More to be added soon.
Learn more about Sikhism HERE
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